A MORAL DILEMMA FOR AMERICANS IS WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY IS NEEDED TO DISCOURAGE VIOLENT CRIMES SUCH AS MURDER OR WHETHER IT CONTRADICTS THE IDEALS AND PRINCIPLES OF AMERICA TODAY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION OPPOSED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, ALTHOUGH THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT OF THE BIL OF RIGHTS PROHIBITS 'CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.' THE 1972 U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE DEATH PENALTY, DESIGNATING IT AS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, WAS MADE BECAUSE STATES WERE IMPOSING IT ARBITRARILY, USUALLY ON BLACKS, THE POOR, AND THE IGNORANT. SINCE THIS RULING, 35 STATES HAVE ADOPTED NEW DEATH PENALTY LAWS DESIGNED TO MEET THE COURT'S OBJECTIONS. TODAY, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE--MAJOR ASSAULTS UPON PERSONS, SUCH AS MURDER, KIDNAPPING, AND RAPE, AND THE POLITICAL CRIMES OF ESPIONAGE AND TREASON. AT LEAST 45 NATIONS, INCLUDING MOST OF THE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES, HAVE ABANDONED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN PRACTICE, IF NOT IN LAW. MANY STATES IN THE U.S. HAVE NO PROVISION FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. OTHERS PROVIDE THE DEATH PENALTY ONLY FOR SPECIFIC CRIMES, SUCH AS KILLING A POLICE OFFICER OR ASSASSINATING A STATE GOVERNOR. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY ARE PRESENTED, BUT THE AUDIENCE IS INVITED TO REACH ITS OWN CONCLUSIONS. THE KIT CONTAINS A COLOR FILMSTRIP, AN AUDIO CASSETTE, A WORKSHEET, AND A DISCUSSION MANUAL. (PRG)